Quick Hits (Leafs, Heatley, Antropov, Beauchemin)

Antropov signs a 4 year 16M dollar contract with the Thrashers, and reports suggest that Ilya Kovalchuk played a significant part in getting this signing done.

The Leafs are now pursuing Manny Malhotra in the UFA sweepstakes in hopes to land his services as the third line center, which is good news or bad news depending on how you look at it for forward Matt Stajan.

There are also a few rumors floating around by the major media outlets suggesting that talks are back on between Chiarelli and Burke regarding movement of Kaberle to the Boston Bruins. That said, the Canucks and Kings are also believed to be interested should either team not land the services of UFA defenseman Francois Beauchemin.

What makes this even more strange is Burke is also in on the bidding for Beauchemin should he move Kaberle. It's getting fishy.

As for the Dany Heatley saga, it's being reported he will make a decision tonight. He refused to waive his NTC last night before the midnight deadline for his 4M dollar bonus because he felt no other organization should be on the hook for a bonus he earned with the Senators. There have also been reports that Heatley purchased a Canadian flag yesterday to celebrate the Canada Day festivities, but he will wait a week before he decides whether or not he wants to wave it.

Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com